Until Dawn (PS5) Review – A Modern Revival of a Horror Masterpiece

Until Dawn PS5 Review

Supermassive Games are aficionados of horror, with each title exploring sub-genres to tell unique tales inspired by the silver screen. Until Dawn, a landmark in decision-based, narrative-driven games, is widely regarded as their finest work. Its star-studded cast, impactful choices, and suffocating atmosphere resonated with players, making it a resounding success. Now, nine years later, Ballistic Moon remakes the classic, utilizing the power of Unreal Engine 5 and making subtle improvements to enhance the experience. Can the update capture the original’s magic, or will it crumble under the weight of its legacy?

Set in a secluded cabin in a mountainous region, you play as various friends, who reunite one year after a horrific tragedy where twin sisters, Beth and Hannah, lost their lives. Josh, the twins’ brother, invites the group to find closure. The premise is conventional and the developers expertly lean into this, playing with clichés to deliver surprises and scares throughout the adventure. Rather than rely on one branch of horror, Until Dawn introduces various elements to create a tangled web of fear, where psychological dread, supernatural terror and slasher suspense combine.

The Root of Evil

Although the story remains true to the original, the prologue has had some new additions that help to flesh out the tragedy at the start. Certain scenes throughout have also been redesigned adding a contemporary feel to the game. This is accentuated through the new score which manages to take you on an emotional journey and elevates the experience.

There’s a deliberate, methodical pacing that helps to ease you into the narrative. You begin to find comfort and relate to the characters through mundane tasks and interactions with others. Although characters are archetypal, they are given time to develop and show layers to their personality which builds a bond between you and each of them. While some have annoying traits, they all possess interesting qualities whether it’s due to their backstory or relationship with others which helps make each interaction insightful. Your choices influence these relationships and shape their outcomes. Meters in the menu will inform you on the affinity between characters which will subtly alter responses in conversations. It’s only small differences, however, these add to the notion that every decision has an effect.

Like other titles in the genre, there are branching storylines where every character can survive or die. Due to this, scenes with mortal danger are intensified as the fate of your character is literally in your hands. The game cleverly signals and tracks key decisions so you know which significant moment has a lasting impact. These are often not immediate, sometimes a choice can affect a later moment creating a ripple effect that alters the course of the story in unexpected ways. This delayed consequence adds layers of tension and uncertainty, keeping you on edge as even minor decisions may lead to major, unforeseen outcomes.

Running Out of Time!

Quick-time events accompany action sequences and are well executed, keeping you both involved and engaged. Missing these can cause your character to deviate from a path or worse, be placed in a perilous situation. This adds to the anxiety-ridden adventure making each moment a thrilling nightmare.

The graphical overhaul sparks new life into the monster. Unreal Engine 5 allows Ballistic Moon to include realistic lighting which emphasises the mystery that lies in each shadow. Character models have had a huge upgrade, looking much more realistic with natural animations, gestures and expressions. In addition, injuries look even more gruesome helping to amplify the horrific deaths that you experience on this demented journey. The number of elements combine to create a cinematic experience that feels like you’re stepping into a terrifying, immersive horror film.

Peering From the Shadows

In the original, fixed camera angles added a surveillance quality to the game. As well as channeling a convention of older horror games, it also allowed the developers to play with the cinematography to heighten scares. Although these are still present at times, the game opts for a more traditional, third-person perspective. This helps improve the moment-to-moment gameplay as movement can be awkward from a fixed angle. In particular, this helps when searching the environment to collect totems, which are now in new locations. There is also another new totem type to collect which gives returning players more to discover.

The remake of Until Dawn stays true to the essence of the original while delivering a much-needed modernization for today’s gaming standards. The stunning graphical overhaul significantly heightens the realism, making the story more immersive and the horror more palpable. Enhanced camera angles refine the gameplay, adding a smoother experience during key moments. While returning players might find the updates limited in terms of new content, those who are discovering this horror classic for the first time are in for an unforgettable experience.

***A PS5 code was provided by the publisher***